Prawns cleaned with Fairy Liquid, tribunal hears

A well-known fish and shellfish processing company forced staff to engage in dubious and appalling work practices, a recent hearing of the Employment Appeals Tribunal was told.

A former manager of Rockabill Shellfish, which is based in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, alleged he was forced to take part in irregular practices while working for the company.

Michael Murray from Skerries, Co Dublin, gave evidence that he had to pack products which were damaged or which had fallen on the floor, and repackage returned products once traceability had been removed.

He also claimed that Rockabill illegally dumped contaminated products in harbours at night even though the company had a dumping permit.

Mr Murray’s son claimed he was asked by Rockabill to forge certain documents, while another worker said she had to wash prawns with Fairy Liquid to “give them a better look”.

The allegations were strenuously denied by the company which claimed it had never been prosecuted and enjoyed a good relationship with the Department of the Marine.

However, it accepted that it did dump some waste at sea.

Mr Murray said he was belittled in front of staff by the Rockabill’s managing director, Bill Price, who regularly roared and shouted at staff.

He told the tribunal that he was informed in Jun 2009 that he was being demoted to assistant manager and his salary was being reduced by €10,000 to €40,000 to allow Mr Price’s son, Alan, to be appointed as general manager of the firm.

The tribunal heard Mr Murray’s pay was stopped as soon as he went on work-related stress in Jan 2010. Mr Murray also said he became aware that Rockabill was advertising for someone to replace him during this period.

Mr Murray claimed he was constructively dismissed by Rockabill as he was left with no alternative but to resign from the company in Jun 2010.

In evidence, Mr Price said the claimant was not up to the role of production manager, which led to the decision to demote him.

Mr Price acknowledged that he had used bad language to Mr Murray but denied that they had advertised his position while he was on sick leave.

The EAT ruled that Mr Murray had been unfairly dismissed and ordered Rockabill to pay him €30,000 in compensation.

The tribunal said Mr Price was guilty of conduct which amounted of a “significant breach” of Mr Murray’s work contract and he had “failed utterly” in engaging with the claimant to resolve his grievances.

Rockabill employs about 90 people at its two factories in Balbriggan, Co Dublin and Skibbereen, Co Cork, while it also operates as a shop, Taste of the Sea in Glasnevin, Dublin and its own fleet of trawlers.